Time delimited multiple admission method and system

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a provision of access to services. A time delimited, multiple use ticket/admissions card is provided that controls admission to services offered by participating service providers. The ticket/admissions card is issued to a ticket holder, and the card is valid for a certain amount of uses, where each use should be completed during a certain period of time. The first use of the card, for example, should be completed within a first time period, and if the first use is not completed during this first time period, then the first use expires; the second use of the card should be completed within a second time period, and if the second use is not completed during this second time period, then the second use expires. In this way, the ticket/admissions card provides a time delimited, multiple use scheme to control allowed admittance to authorized services.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/824,586, filed Jun. 29, 2007 now U.S Pat. No. 7,600,680, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/641,304, filed Dec.19, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,337,949), which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/204,803, filed Aug. 15, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,156,294), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/827,737, filed Apr. 20, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,383).

The entire teachings of the above application(s) are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's market, there are a variety of ways to make payment for goodsand services. Payment can be tendered using cash currency, fundstransfer between accounts, debit cards, credit cards, barter, frequentflyer miles, and prepaid cards, to name just a few methods. In thedynamic marketplace, customers might obtain vastly different goods orservices for their payment.

There are many different prepaid business models in the marketplace.Conventional prepaid cards include a wide variety of financial products,including gift cards, phone cards, travel cards, flexible spendingaccount cards, government benefit cards, subway system cards, employeeincentive cards and payroll cards. These prepaid cards generally are inthe form of a plastic card with a magnetic strip, bar code or embeddedchip that permit the cardholders to access funds for the purchase ofgoods or services, much like a credit or debit card. Although prepaidcards have the appearance of credit cards and debit cards and theyprovide a form of cash, usually they neither involve credit nor are theytied to a cardholder's demand deposit account. Such cards are typicallytied to a specified brand product or merchant service provider and havea set dollar amount or line of credit up to which the end user can spendin one or multiple uses. This form, therefore, presents the end userwith concerns over price differentials between participating merchants(service provider) and increases in prices for the same goods orservices. Because the card is designed for multiple-use bounded by apredefined dollar limit, the end user more often than not pays out ofpocket for purchases over the dollar limit of the card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to marketing and distributingservices, especially participatory sports or entertainment services, bycollecting effectively a variable prepayment and issuing to a customer aticket or similar indicia, which can be redeemed for a particularservice. Preferably, the service is one that can be obtained at thecustomer's option from any of a plurality of distinct service providers,including providers that normally charge more or less than others forthe particular service involved.

Systems and methods for providing a redeem-for-services program(electronic data or code, magnetic strip card, bar code, etc.) for aticket card-holder to obtain services are disclosed. A ticket enablesuse of services offered by one or more service providers during validuse periods. A first use period is defined and enables a ticket holderto use the ticket during the first use period in exchange for admissionto services offered by one or more of the service providers. A seconduse period is defined and enables the ticket holder to use the ticketduring the second use period in exchange for admission to servicesoffered by one or more of the services providers.

The second use period is different than the first use period. The seconduse period is set so that it commences on or after the expiration of thefirst use period. A third and subsequent use periods can likewise bedefined. The third use period can be defined so that it enables theticket holder to use the ticket during the third use period in exchangefor admission to services offered by one or more of the serviceproviders. The third use period commences on or after the expiration ofthe second use period. The first, second, and third use periods haverespective time intervals. The time intervals of the first, second, andthird use periods can be equivalent in length.

During the defined first use period, the ticket holder has the right touse the ticket at least once in exchange for admission to servicesoffered by one or more of the service providers. During that time, theticket can be processed and authorizes admission to one of the servicesas selected by the ticket holder.

After the expiration of the first use period, the right to use theticket (with respect to the first use period) is caused to expire. Thefirst use period can expire if the ticket holder fails to use the ticketwithin the first use period. If the first use period has expired, theticket holder can be prevented from. using the ticket. If the first useperiod has expired for failure to use the ticket within the delineatedfirst use period, the ticket provider who issues the ticket receivesvalue for the ticket holder's failure to use the ticket. The serviceproviders, however, do not receive value for the ticket holder's failureto use the ticket. However, the rights to use the ticket during thenon-expired parts of the second and third use periods remain in tact.

In response to the ticket holder selecting services offered by one ofthe service providers, the ticket is processed using a communicationsnetwork to determine whether the ticket is valid. The communicationsnetwork can be a credit card network, debit card network, or a privatelabel network. The service providers can be authorized merchants thatare part of the communications network. Each of the merchants access thecommunications network to process the ticket using an input/output portto a card processor of the communications network. The ticket isprocessed using the communications network, excluding any reporting ofmonetary value associated with the ticket, while reporting incrementalcredit information.

The ticket is redeemed using the communications network if the ticket isvalid. The ticket is redeemed at a variable rate by debiting a price setby the selected service provider for the selected services. The pricedebited for services by a portion of the service providers is differentfrom the price debited by other service providers for the same services,such that the ticket is redeemed at a variable rate among the serviceproviders for the same services. The payment at the price debited forthe selected services is effected. Any differences in prices debited bythe service providers for substantially the same services are absorbed.The ticket is redeemed for multiple uses of the selected services. Theticket is redeemable for the selected services from the selected serviceproviders, as opposed to a cash value.

If the ticket is valid and has been redeemed, the ticket holder isallowed to access the selected services. To determine that the ticket isvalid, the ticket holder's desired use period is determined based on thetime in which the ticket holder intends to use the ticket for admissionto the selected services. The ticket holder's desired use period iscompared with the valid use periods. If the ticket holder's desired useperiod is within one of the valid use periods, the ticket is determinedto be currently valid. A ticket holder can make a reservation for use ofthe selected services to set the desired use period. The ticket holdermay make the reservation using an online reservation system.

If the ticket holder's desired use period is not within one of the validuse periods, the ticket holder can be allowed to upgrade the ticket. Theoptional purchase of additional incremental value above the base ticketvalue of the ticket can be enabled. The ticket may be presented by theticket holder to the selected service provider in exchange for use ofthe selected services where the price debited by the selected serviceprovider may be higher than the base ticket value.

The service providers can provide similar services. The similar servicesmay be golf services, spa services, or movie theatre services forexample.

The ticket can be implemented by using a card, using an electronicticket, or using an access code.

The ticket can have a unique identifier. Upon purchase of the ticket bya customer, the ticket can be activated by a seller thereof. Whenactivating the ticket the unique identifier of the ticket can bevalidated.

Based on the defined use period, the ticket is valid for redemption fora limited period of time (or multiple periods of time) after activation.In determining the use period, the service provider can verify theexpiration date of the use period of the ticket.

A system for providing a provision of access to services is provided. Acommunications network is utilized for processing a ticket. A processor,in communications with the network, processes the ticket at a variablerate within two or more use periods. The two or more use periods candefine time intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision ofaccess to services offered by the participating service providers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example overview of aredeem-for-services system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of an exemplary embodimentand method of administering the invention services system.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an overview of the process ofusing time delimitated tickets according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example online environment forprocessing an electronic ticket according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example redeem-tor-services system inwhich merchants accept the various use periods associated with a ticketaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a computer network or similardigital processing environment in which embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of acomputer node or processor device of the network of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

Redeem-for-Services

Unlike a traditional gift card with a specific monetary value, thepresent invention generally provides redeem-for-services system using acard or a ticket, which is not limited to a single dollar amount orstore chain. The recipient of one of these inventive tickets has theflexibility to enjoy a particular type of goods or personal services,such as a golf, ski, spa, or movie experience, regardless of pricevariances, at the location and time of their choosing. The inventiveticket can be processed, for example, by simply swiping it through astandard credit card reader/network, or by simply entering in a pinnumber or access code.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example overview of aredeem-for-services system 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In this example, the redeem-for-services system 10 includesthe following parties: a seller 20, purchaser 30, end user/ticket user35 and service provider 80. A ticket information manager 70, financialnetwork 90 and ticketing program manager 95 support the apparatus andaffect the transactions among the parties of system 10.

For the end user 35, the present invention provides unique access togoods or services. The unique access code, for example, can be 16 digitidentification number, which can be booked online. Preferably, a ticket40 that includes the unique access code is provided. The ticket 40 isfor a specified service that is acceptable at multiple participatingservice providers 80. The service providers 80 provide similar services.The ticket 40 is for one or more uses at any one of the multipleparticipating service providers 80 of the end user's choosing. Becausethe participating service providers 80 may have different prices for thesubject service, the inventive ticket 40 is redeemable at a variablerate.

Any of the service providers 80 can increase the price of the subjectservice between the time the ticket 40 is originally issued and the timethe ticket 40 is used, and the variable rate redemption will cover theincreased price. To the end user 35, the ticket 40 provides full paymentfor the subject service no matter what the cost differential from oneservice provider to the next or the increase in price by an individualservice provider 80 over time. That is, to the end user, the experiencein using the inventive ticket 40 does not differ depending on theservice provider 80 selected by the end user 35 (even if the end userselects the service provider with the highest price for the subjectservice or a service provider who has increased the price of thatservice). The end user 35 does not need to pay out of pocket for thecost differential. The cost differential is absorbed by the ticketinformation manager 70. As a result, the inventive ticket 40 representsto the end user 35 the subject service paid in full and serves as a onetime access to the service.

By way of contrast, traditional gift cards and credit cards provide aform of cash. Such cards have a set dollar amount or line of credit upto which the end user can spend in one or multiple uses. Withconventional gift or debit cards, the user typically faces concerns overprice differentials between participating merchants (service providers)and increases in prices for the same goods or services. The user has adifferent experience in using the gift or debit card depending onmerchant selected. Because conventional gift/debit cards are designedfor multiple uses, bounded by a predefined dollar limit, the user moreoften than not pays out of pocket for purchases over the dollar limit ofthe card.

While traditional credit/debit or gift cards effectively represent adollar for dollar cash equivalent, usable multiple times forgoods/services of the end user's choosing, the variable rate redemptionof the present invention provides a ticket 40 for a prespecifiedservice.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, at step 100, a ticketing program manager 95desiring to implement the redeem-for-services system 10, preferably fora particular type of entertainment or personal service, enlists aplurality of service providers (merchants) 80 of one or moresubstantially comparable services. In at least one embodiment, providers80 are under contract to honor the inventive ticket 40 according to theprocedures described herein, namely to accept the ticket 40 in exchangefor provision of the provider's 80 regular services and to seekremuneration for such services from the system maintained by theticketing program manager 95.

The ticketing program manager 95 enlists the service providers 80 asmembers of a network of similar service providers (e.g. a common groupenterprise or industry). The provider's membership in the common groupenterprise helps advertise the provider's services. Likewise, membershipin the enterprise can further benefit individual providers, throughadditional advertising, access to new clientele and association with aproduct (the ticket 40) that may be promoted as having a certaindesirable cachet in and of itself. In addition, it can be desirable thatthe service providers accept the ticket 40 at all times they are open,so that a “no-blackouts” feature of the ticket 40 will enhance itsacceptance in the marketplace and add to the desirability of receivingsuch a pass as a gift. However, it is not strictly necessary for theprovider 80 to undertake any particular responsibilities other than toprovide the same services to ticket user 35 as the provider 80 providesto regular cash customers.

The service providers 80 can provide at least one same stated service orarticle of goods, for example, a round of golf, a day's worth of skiingor treatment at a health spa or the like. The ticket 40 is a timedelimited, multiple use ticket/admissions card that controls admissionto the services offered by participating service providers. Each use ofthe ticket should be completed during a certain period of time. Thefirst use of the card, for example, should be completed within a firsttime period, and if the first use is not completed during this firsttime period, then first use expires; the second use of the card shouldbe completed within a second time period, and if the second use is notcompleted during this second time period, then the second time use timeperiod expires. In this way, the ticket 40 provides a time delimited,multiple use scheme to control allowed admittance to authorizedservices.

A broad network of providers of like services who accept the ticket 40improves the marketability of the ticket 40, since the ability for theuser to select among a variety of convenient providers is a desirablefeature and one which can differentiate the ticket 40 from ordinary giftcards or other indicia redeemable only at the retailers from whom it waspurchased. Various providers 80 can provide somewhat different servicesand may assess different charges, up to a threshold of difference withinwhich the providers are considered to provide the “same” service asauthorized and redeemable by presenting the one time use ticket 40. Asused herein, a “same” service contemplates like services, equivalentservices and similar.

Therefore, while the particular service for which a ticket 40 is to beused is nominally the same service for that series of ticket (e.g., fortickets sold for redemption for a uniquely named or described service),the service providers 80 need not all agree to provide identicalservices or to charge a dictated price for their services. Within thethreshold of comparable pricing, differences in services can beaccommodated owing to such factors as specific service componentdifferences, location, prestige and quality, or other differences, aswell as arbitrary consumer preferences. Preferably, even though theticket 40 is sold for a given price and is redeemable for such servicesat any of the service providers 80, the service providers 80 do not needto each accept identical payment value for their services.

Setting the Price of the Ticket

The ticketing program manager 95 sets the price charged by seller 20 forsale and activation of the ticket 40, so as to accommodate variations inactual service provider prices. The inventive tickets can be priced, forexample, according to leveled access (levels of access to servicesafforded by the ticket) as described in co-pending Application Ser. No.11/824,535, the entire teachings of which are incorporated by reference.A standard ticket can be pre-loaded at least with level one access,while tickets for services that are in mid-to upper level price ranges,can be pre-loaded with level two or level three access. Eachparticipating golf course location, for example, can be associated witha specific level. An online directory can be provided to distributeinformation about each golf location and its associated level(s). Theselevels can be applied to each golf ticket as an indication of thegolfing experience, for instance, to allow for seasonal and resort styleplay.

Establishing Relationships with Sales Outlets

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, after the service providerrelationships have been established (step 100) or while that isoccurring, the ticketing program manager 95 establishes relationshipswith existing sales outlets or ticket distributors (step 110) who willsell the tickets 40. The sellers 20 have point of sale terminals 50connected to an existing network 60, such as a credit/debit card networkor private label network, that allows fast, efficient communication withthe ticket information manager 70. This communication is desirable forthe transfer of the information required to initialize a ticket 40 onceit has been purchased. If the existing network is connected to afinancial network 90, such as that maintained by a credit card company,this can also facilitate the automatic transfer of funds between thesellers 20 and the ticketing program manager 95 and between theticketing program manager 95 and service providers 80. For example, thecredit card company can maintain an escrow account for the ticketingprogram manager 95, into which funds are transferred from the sellersand from which funds are withdrawn to pay service providers. By using anexisting credit card network as the financial “rail” for the system,funds transfers can be managed with minimal day to-day involvement fromthe ticketing program manager 95. While the use of an existing creditcard network as the communication network carries certain advantages, itis also possible for the communications to take place over an Internetconnection (for example to a secure web page hosted by the accountmanager) or a telephone connection to either “live” operators or anInteractive Voice Response system connected to the ticket 40 informationmanager's (70) data storage equipment.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ticket information manager 70 has acommunications link or other access to a financial network 90 which is acredit card provider's network, When a ticket 40 is swiped on a point ofsale terminal 50 at either the seller's end or the service provider'send, the credit card network will communicate (at 60) with or otherwiseaccess the ticket 40 information manager's 70 equipment. The ticket 40verification or validation and approval of service providers are handleddirectly by the ticket information manager 70. The ticket informationmanager 70 simply returns an accept or reject message to the credit card(financial) network 90, which then either causes the transaction to beprocessed at the point of sale terminal 50 or cease.

In an alternative embodiment, the ticket issuer can be a commercialorganization other than a seller 20, with communications equipment orthe like to activate the ticket 40 through communications with theticketing program manager 95.

Distributing and Configuring the Tickets

Once relationships with the sellers 20 and service providers 80 areestablished, the ticketing program manager 95 distributes the tickets(step 120). Preferably the tickets are distributed at first in anun-initialized state, namely functional but not yet validated for use. Avalidation process includes placing suitable codes or notations on thetickets or storing codes in the tickets or elsewhere in a data storagemedium that is accessible over a communication network. These codes canbe checked when determining whether to permit use of the tickets toredeem-for-services by a service provider.

In one embodiment, the tickets have a preprinted unique identificationcode and a magnetic strip or other means of recording information. Thestrip or other means can be prerecorded with a unique or at leastsubstantially unique identification code for each ticket. The uniqueidentification code may be an alphabetic code, a numeric code, an alphanumeric code, or other appropriate identification code capable ofuniquely identifying an individual ticket, and perhaps also identifyingthe related type of service (e.g., golf, spa, etc.). In an alternateembodiment, the tickets do not have a preprinted or prerecordedidentification code, but do contain a recordable medium such as amagnetic strip or an electronic storage device, which may be loaded witha unique code preliminarily or may have an area in which such a code isinserted as a part of the initialization procedure.

The issued ticket 40 can be configured and formatted with certainindicia characteristic of a standard credit card. This can includeprinted or embossed account identification numbers, a magnetic strip oron board integrated circuit memory, a one or two dimensional optical barcode, etc. The information can be prerecorded or at least partlyrecordable. Two or more redundant means for storing the sameinformation, such as an account number, which identifies the allowed useperiods associated with the ticket, can be provided for data entry indifferent optional ways, or the different storage techniques can be usedfor information that is otherwise cross referenced. Advantageously, theticket 40 has sufficient information carried thereon to permit use ofthe ticket 40 substantially in the same physical manner as a standardcredit card, namely using equipment conventionally provided at apoint-of-sale terminal 50 (scanners, magnetic strip swipe readers,keyboards, etc.).

In accordance with the present invention, the issued ticket 40 isconfigured such that it provides a time delimited, multiple use ticketthat controls admission to services offered by participating serviceproviders. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an overview of theprocessing 300 of such time delimitated tickets 40 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The issued ticket/admissions card40 is issued to a ticket holder 35, and the card is valid for a certainamount of uses during certain time periods. Each use should be completedduring a respective (defined) certain period of time. At step 302, theticket user holder 35 selects a service from one of the participatingservice providers 80, where the ticket holder intends to use the ticket.The ticket 40 is processed at step 304 to determine whether the ticketis valid for the selected services, and at 306 the use period in whichthe ticket holder intends to use the ticket is compared with the useperiods that are prescribed with the ticket. The ticket 40 can have anynumber of prescribed use periods. The first use of the card, forexample, should be completed within a first time period, and if thefirst use is not completed during this first time period, then theopportunity for the first use expires; the second use of the card(ticket) 40 should be completed within a second time period, and if thesecond use is not completed during this second time period, then thesecond time use time period expires. In this way, the ticket/admissionscard 40 provides a time delimited, multiple use scheme to controlallowed admittance to authorized services.

At 308, if the intended use period does not match one of the use periodsassociated with the ticket 40, then at 310 the ticket holder 35 canupgrade the ticket to purchase a use period that matches the intendeduse period. If the intended use period matches a use period currentlyassociated with the ticket 40, then at 312 the ticket 40 is redeemed. Asdiscussed in more detail below, the ticket 40 can be redeemed at avariable rate redemption. Any differences in price between the variousparticipating service providers for substantially the same service isabsorbed by the initial ticket issuer. At 314, the ticket user isallowed to use the ticket as a provision of access to the selectedservices during the current time period.

Each time-based use of the ticket 40 may be used at a differentparticipating service provider 80. For instance, if the ticket 40 isconfigured so that it enables admission to services for three differentuse periods, each use period can be applied at a different merchant.FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example prepaid or redeem-for-servicessystem in which merchants accept the various use periods associated withthe ticket. As shown in FIG. 5, a ticket holder (end user) 35 selectsMerchant 1 to redeem its first use period 504-1, and then the ticketholder 35 selects Merchant 2 to redeem its second use period 504-2.Merchants 1 and 2 can require different prices for the selectedservices. Any difference in prices are not made apparent to the ticketholder 35. Any difference in prices for the services are absorbed by,for example, the ticket program manager 95.

Instead of preloading a card with the ticket information, an e-ticket(electronic ticket) can be provided. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of anexample online environment for processing an electronic ticket accordingto an embodiment of the invention. An application server 556 can hostthe ticket account information 554. End users at client systems 554 canaccess their ticket information 554 and download an electronic copy oftheir time delimited e-ticket 552. An e-ticket can be a paperlesselectronic document or qualifying data. When an end user, for example,reserves a golf T-time or movie seat by telephone or using globalcomputer network communications, the details of the reservation can bestored electronically at the application server 556. The end user candownload a copy of the electronic ticket locally to their hard drive558, or print a hardcopy of the reservation, but preferably, in thisimplementation, the hard copy would not be required for admission to thedesired service/service provider 80. A confirmation number can beassigned to the end user's reservation, along with the date(s), andlocation(s). For admittance, the end user can simply present positiveidentification or a confirmation code, access code or PIN number.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ticketing program manager 95reserves for itself a series of digits or numbers or number combinationsin a standard credit card format that are unique to the account managerand identify one or more accounts associated with the ticketing programmanager 95. Initialization and validation steps, which are processed bya ticket information manager 70 can be undertaken over al existingcommunication network 60, which preferably is a network that processesconventional credit/debit cards, or can be another public or privatedata communication network. Other types of communication devices may beused instead of or in addition to a standard point-of-sale terminal 50programmed to handle credit cards, so long as the device is capable ofcommunicating sufficient ticket information over an operablecommunications network. For example, in another example implementation,the ticket information can be transmitted between the seller 20 and theticket information manager 70 by telephone either by voice inassociation with a live operator or through a telephone keypad to anInteractive Voice Response system.

The ticket 40 proceeds through several steps associated with initialissue, sale (preferably with validation concurrently upon sale), andlater presentation as an identification of value used to presentremittance for a service. At step 130 (FIG. 2), the purchaser 30 selectsa ticket 40 for purchase and pays the seller 20 some agreed purchaseprice 31. This transaction can be a conventional retail, wholesale orother transaction in which one or more tickets are exchanged for cash orcredit or other remuneration.

At step 131, the seller 20 activates the ticket, preferably, includingtransmitting an identification code that is or becomes associated withthe ticket 40 (e.g., is at least partly read from or written onto orotherwise associated with the ticket). The identification code is atleast substantially unique to the ticket 40 and is transmitted over theexisting communications network 60 to the ticket information manager 70or to a data store associated with the ticket information manager 70. Ifthe system is such that the ticket 40 already has a preprinted orrecorded identification number, the ticket information manager 70compares this number with the numbers of tickets that it has previouslydistributed to sellers as one step in determining validity. If theticket 40 has a valid number that has not already been processed, theticket 40 information manager records the ticket's number, noting forexample in a data memory that the ticket 40 has now been purchased andshould be authorized for use. Other information is also preferablyrecorded, including at least the purchase price and the date of the saletransaction (step 132). The ticket information manager 70 preferablyacknowledges by communication back to the seller that the ticket 40 isvalid and now has been initialized (step 133), although theacknowledgement can be deferred or accomplished off line.

The seller 20 then accepts payment 31 from the purchaser 30 (who mightor might not be the ultimate ticket user). At step 134, the seller 20transfers payment 21 to the ticketing program manager 95, preferably,through a financial network 90 such as a credit card network. If acredit card network is used, funds can be automatically transferred toan escrow account maintained with the credit card company for theticketing program manager 95. Although the seller could have previouslypaid the ticketing program manager 95 in full for the tickets and thenresells them to customers, it is preferable that payment to theticketing program manager's escrow account is made from funds receivedfrom the purchaser 30. Therefore, payment 31, 21 is transferred to orfor the benefit of the ticketing program manager 95 when payment istendered by the purchaser 30. The payment 21 to the ticketing programmanager 95 (or it's escrow account) is the payment tendered, less aportion of the sale price that is due to the seller (step 134) inconsideration of making the sale.

If the communication network 60 is an existing credit card network,credit can be transferred immediately to the ticketing program manager's95 account. In another embodiment, the initialization process can takeplace over a global computer network (the Internet), e.g., via a secureweb page hosted by the ticketing program manager 95 or another parryproviding account transfer services. For example, payment to theticketing program manager's escrow account can be effected throughavailable Internet payment mechanisms such as Pay Pal, which providesfor value transfer to end user's accounts. Otherwise, the seller 20 canremit funds owed to the ticketing program manager 95 on an invoiced orother basis, Because the initialization of the ticket 40 (steps 131-133)is preferably performed through the ticket information manager 70, anexact, up-to-date record is maintained of how many tickets each sellerhas sold, and at what price. This facilitates accountability and correctpayment to the ticketing program manager 95 or into its escrow account.

Using the Ticket

Once purchased, a ticket 40, may be used by the purchaser 30 or bysomeone to whom the purchaser has conveyed the ticket, for example as apremium or as a gift for redemption, etc. The ticket 40 is used as arepresentation of value used as remittance at any of the serviceproviders services during the intended use period, which matches thedefined use periods associated with the ticket. Inasmuch as the end user35 might or might not be the same party as the purchaser 30, for thepurpose of this description, the term “user” or “end user” should beconstrued to encompass an initial purchaser or anyone to whom thepurchaser has conveyed the ticket 40.

A ticket user 35 presents the ticket 40 to a service provider 80 at step150 in order to redeem the indicated service. At step 151, the serviceprovider, preferably, verifies the validity of the ticket 40, includingits defined ticket use periods, by data transfer to the ticketinformation manager 70 over the communications network 60. If thecommunications network is one that is maintained by a credit cardprovider, the credit card provider's equipment would recognize theunique identification code as being not an ordinary credit card but atime delineated ticket 40 and would contact the ticket informationmanager 70 to perform verification of both the service provider'sinclusion in the program and the time period and overall validity of theindividual ticket. As a first check, the ticket information manager 70will verify that the service provider 80 is among those who have agreedto accept the tickets for the current time period of use, (Step 152).This may be accomplished by the storage of an inclusion table (withcorresponding time periods of participation) by the ticket informationmanager 70. If the communications network is a credit card network, theinitial screening for whether a service provider 80 is listed in aninclusion table can also be made by the credit card service provider.The unique identification code associated with the ticket 40 is read atthe point of sale terminal 50 of the service provider 80 and thentransmitted to the ticket information manager 70. At step 153, theticket code is compared with a list of codes stored in a data basemaintained by (or for) the ticket information manager 70, namely, a listof valid ticket codes for initialized but as-yet-unused tickets. If theticket code is valid and the ticket 40 has not yet been used, the ticketinformation manager 70 returns a message to the service provider (viathe credit card network if employed as part of the system) that theticket 40 is valid. This indicates to the service provider 80 point ofsale that the user may redeem time based use of the service provider'sservices, such as the aforementioned round of golf, day of skiing ortreatment at a health spa or the like during the defined time period.The ticket information manager 70 then records data referenced to theticket code to represent that the ticket 40 has been used, so that theticket 40 may not be used validly again during that same time period(step 154).

By communicating to the service provider 80 that the ticket 40 is valid,the ticket information manager 70 basically indicates that the ticketingprogram manager 95 will remit payment 81 to the service provider 80 inthe amount of the purchase price of the service for which the ticketuser 35 has presented the ticket 40. If a credit card provider isserving as the financial network and the communications network 60, theticket information manager 70 can signal the credit card provider torelease funds from an escrow account maintained for the ticketingprogram manager 95 directly to the service provider's account. Tofacilitate validation, it is possible for a service provider that offersvarious services to report to the ticket information manager 70 that aparticular service is being redeemed, whereby the ticketing programmanager 95 can account for the amount to be remitted. Finally, theticket information manager 70 sends a notification to the financialnetwork 90 that a ticket 40 has been redeemed, at which point thefinancial network provider transfers payment 81 from the ticketingprogram manager's 95 account to the service provider's account. (Step155).

When the communications network 60 is (or links with) an existing creditcard network, credit for the funds may be transferred from the ticketingprogram manager 95 (or its escrow account maintained by the credit cardnetwork) to the service provider's account immediately in the same wayas a credit card transaction, but, preferably, the purchaser 30 and enduser 35 are not privy to the accounting details of service price and thelike. Preferably, it is not necessary for the end user 35 to presentidentification or sign receipts or the like, because the monetarytransaction is between the ticketing program manager 95 and the serviceprovider 80.

Although a credit card network can be used, the communications networkcan be another public or private data communications network, such as anInternet connection to a web page hosted by (or for) the ticketinformation manager 70 or alternatively by the ticketing program manager95. The ticketing program manager 95 can transfer funds to the serviceprovider using a variety of Internet-based services, such as Pay Pal,Bill Point, etc. Otherwise, the ticketing program manager 95 can makepayment by check or other means to service providers 80 on a periodicbasis to account for the number of users that have used that serviceprovider's services since last payment. It will be recognized that theseparate functional blocks depicted in FIG. 1 as ticket informationmanager 70 and ticketing program manager 95 may be performed by the sameentity. Further, ticket information manager 70 and ticketing programmanager 95 may be implemented as one or more processing engines (e.g. aredeem-for-services ticket engine) or other processor-like units. Itshould be recognized that an escrow account can be maintained either bythe ticketing program manager 95 as depicted in FIG. 1 or by thefinancial network 90 on behalf of the ticketing program manager 95.Other configurations and arrangements are suitable.

If, at step 153, the ticket information manager 70 determines that theticket 40 does not have a valid identification code, or has a code for aticket 40 that has already been used once, then a message is returned tothe service provider 80 indicating that the ticket 40 is not valid andthat the service provider should not accept the ticket 40 as payment forservices. A similar message would result it, at step 152, the ticketinformation manager 70 does not recognize the service provider 80 as onewho has agreed to participate in the prepaid leisure activity servicessystem, or where the intended use period does not match the use periodsassociated with the ticket.

Preferably, the ticket 40 provides information and enables the end user35 to obtain and remit for an incremental service, as opposed to anincremental sum of money. The various service providers 80 may chargedifferent amounts for similar or different services. A given serviceprovider may assess different charges at different times for itsparticular services. Preferably, the different charges are within thethreshold price range associated with the ticket level as described inco-pending Application Ser. No. 11/824,535, the entire teachings ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. The services can beassociated with different levels for different times of day. Forinstance, golf services offered by a golf provider can be assigned aLevel One rating during periods of less than maximal use or demand, suchas off-peak hours, while its services can be assigned a Level Two ratingduring peak hours.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, from the end user's standpoint, thesystem treats the ticket 40 as the mechanism to provide an increment ofservices (or possibly goods) apart from these pricing considerations,which is advantageous. At step 160, after the system 10 has been inoperation for some period of time, the ticketing program manager 95 cancompare and reconcile any overage/underage on proceeds received ontickets 40 presented for higher or lower priced service providers 80and/or sold by sellers 20 with higher or lower markups. Accordingly, theticketing program manager 95 adjusts pricing and payment strategies orprovider membership arrangements, if necessary. These differences areabsorbed and averaged by the ticketing program manager 95, who can makecertain decisions about how the system 10 is run and how tickets 40 areleveled (threshold ranges) and priced. For example, the ticketingprogram manager 95 may decide based on experience to adjust the saleprice of future tickets 40 and/or to adjust the threshold price rangeper level of tickets. Further, a ticketing program manager 95 maydetermine that certain sellers 70 and/or providers 80 will or will notbecome or remain active, with competition and supply and demand causingthe market to reach an equilibrium. However, because the ticket 40represents credit toward a service (or a prepaid or credited service)and not a monetary value to the users, a change in price for new ticketpurchases will not affect the redeem-ability of tickets alreadypurchased.

Upgrading a Ticket

The purchasers 30 or ticket users 35 can be provided with the ability toadd a limited amount of incremental value to the ticket 40 (an upgrade),either at time of initial ticket purchase or at any time after purchaseand prior to redemption of the ticket 40 for services (step 140 in FIG.2). The addition of incremental value can allow the ticket user toupgrade the use period of the ticket so that it matches the intended useperiod. The feature incorporating the addition of incremental value canapply to allow use of the ticket 40 at service providers 80 whoseservices are priced significantly higher than the initial value of theticket 40. When a user 35 intends to redeem the ticket 40 for a useperiod that does not match the ticket's prescribed use periods,incremental value can be added to the ticket. Incremental value need notnecessarily be an integer multiple of the ticket's initial value, butcan be a fraction of the initial value. Preferably, the ticket 40reflects incremental values, or credits, to the user 35, and notmonetary value. While the ticket information manager 70 may store foreach ticket data representing the actual monetary value that has beenpurchased by the ticket user, any features that allow the user toretrieve information about the ticket 40 (such as Interactive VoiceResponse or Internet access described more fully below) will preferablyreturn incremental credit information and not monetary value to the user35. This distinction reinforces the premise that the ticket 40represents the ability to redeem a service from agreed providers 80regardless of the cost of that service.

Additional incremental value can be used to allow the user to redeem theticket 40 to accommodate providing the service to additional people atthe time of redemption, for example, so that the user and a guest orguests can pay for all of their rounds of golf on the ticket 40.Preferably, a ticket 40 with additional incremental value, like aninitial ticket, cannot be presented on more than one occasion. Instead,the ticket 40 is marked and can be used as a ticket 40 for a givenservice, and adding increments refers to adding (or perhaps changing)the service that is provided when the use is redeemed by one or moreassociated users. It will be recognized that the incremental upgradesfor higher-priced service providers (services associated with higherlevels or with particular use periods) and for allowing additionalguests can also be combined to allow either or both options as part ofthe method.

In another embodiment of the invention, a user can purchase additionalincremental value directly from the ticketing program manager 95, or anagent 20 of the ticketing program manager 95 as shown in FIG. 5A. Thiscan be implemented in various ways, including via telephone or a globalcomputer network.

A telephone-based method for allowing purchase of additional incrementalvalue can be implemented either with “live” operators who respond tousers' telephone calls or with Interactive Voice Response (IVR)equipment. In a live operator system, the operators will have access tothe ticket information manager's database of ticket 40 and, ifapplicable, user information and can search, access and modify theinformation via a computer terminal or like device. Another optionprovides for the ticket information manager 70 (or, alternatively theticketing program manager 95) to maintain an (IVR) system that isentirely computerized. Users who call to add additional value to theirtickets will do so by entering numbers on the telephone keypad, inresponse to computer generated messages, such as “Please enter 1 to addvalue to your ticket. Now enter your 16 digit ticket number followed bythe pound sign.” Ticket information can be read back to the user withvoice simulation or prerecorded messages stored as a part of the IVRsystem. It is also possible to combine live and IVR systems so thatusers have the option of performing the transaction with a person or acomputer.

A further embodiment of the system provides for Internet-based accountmanagement. The ticket information manager 70 (or, alternatively theticketing program manager 95) maintains computers connected to theInternet and programmed to allow users to access and update ticketinformation or upgrade ticket value via a web page. The web address ispreprinted on the tickets or on the packaging with which the tickets aresold. Upon entering the ticket information manager's 70 secure web site,users are asked to enter the unique identification code of their ticket.The ticket information manager's 70 computer checks the ticket numberagainst the database of valid ticket numbers and if the number is valid,allows the user to add value to the ticket and pay for the transactionthrough a standard credit card. In turn, the ticket informationmanager's 70 database is updated to reflect the additional value addedto the user's ticket 40 and credit is added to the ticketing programmanager's 95 account. In an Internet based option, the user can also usethe Internet to simply verify ticket value or expiration date and onceconnected to the ticket information manager's 70 web page also searchfor service providers in the user's locality, or in a travel destinationwhere the user expects to redeem the ticket. This feature gives addedvalue to service providers since the web access gives the serviceproviders an opportunity to provide web page links with customizedadvertising or other information in addition to standard informationprovided by the ticketing program manager's 95 web site.

In any embodiment of the invention that allows user retrieval of ticketinformation, the actual cash value that has been purchased in connectionwith the ticket 40 is preferably never available to the user, only thenumber of incremental credits loaded onto the ticket and/or currentuseable ticket level.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the ticket informationmanager's 70 database can be set up to store information beyond theticket number and value associated with a ticket. For example, useridentification information such as name, address and e-mail address canbe stored at the time a user purchases a ticket. Storage of thisinformation would, for example, allow the ticketing program manager 95to replace a lost ticket upon presentation by the user of such personalidentification information. The ticket information manager 70 can searchits database for a user's name and determine whether the user's ticket40 has been redeemed. If the ticket 40 has not yet been redeemed, thenthe lost ticket number can be canceled and a new ticket 40 issued to theuser. This transaction could be implemented either in person through aseller or with the ticketing program manager 95 (or, alternatively, theticket information manager 70) via telephone or a global computernetwork (the Internet) as described above. Recordation of userinformation can also provide a valuable feature to service providerswho, if given access to such information (either for a fee or by otheragreement with the ticketing program manager 95) can access thatinformation for marketing purposes, and can target marketingspecifically to users who have redeemed their tickets at that particularservice provider.

In the case where a ticket 40 can have additional incremental valueadded, part of step 1553 (FIG. 2) would include not only verifying thatthe ticket 40 is valid, but determining the total value of the ticket.Again, the ticket's value as seen by a user is not intended to be inmonetary units, but incremental credits or ticket level. For example, aticket 40 may be initialized with one credit at level 2 at time of sale(a base value), and be valid for time based uses at all serviceproviders of level 2 services. Additional credits can be fractions ofthe base value. For example, additional increments might be one quarterof the initial value. A user can then purchase four additionalincrements to take a guest if that is a feature of the system, or mightpurchase only the number of incremental credits to be able to use theticket 40 at a particular service provider who provides thecorresponding level of services. In this embodiment of the invention,the service provider verifies the ticket's validity and its value(level) at time of redemption. Because the ticket 40 can be aone-time-use ticket, any additional value on the ticket 40 that exceedsthat needed for the user to redeem for the service will be lost to theuser.

Processing Environment

FIG. 6 illustrates a computer network or similar digital processingenvironment 600 in which the present invention may be implemented.Client computer(s)/devices 150 and server computer(s) 160 provideprocessing, storage, and input/output devices executing applicationprograms and the like, Client computer(s)/devices 150 can also be linkedthrough communications network 170 to other computing devices, includingother client devices/processes 150 and server computer(s) 160.Communications network 170 can be part of a remote access network, aglobal network (e.g., the Internet), a worldwide collection ofcomputers, Local area or Wide area networks, and gateways that currentlyuse respective protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, etc.) to communicate withone another. Other electronic device/computer network architectures aresuitable.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the internal structure of a computer (e.g.,client processor/device 150 or server computers 160) in the computersystem of FIG. 16. Each computer 150, 160 contains system bus 179, wherea bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer among thecomponents of a computer or processing system. Bus 179 is essentially ashared conduit that connects different elements of a computer system(e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports, networkports, etc.) that enables the transfer of information between theelements. Attached to system bus 179 is an Input/Output (I/O) deviceinterface 182 for connecting various input and output devices (e.g.,keyboard, mouse, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computer150, 160. Network interface 186 allows the computer to connect tovarious other devices attached to a network (e.g., network 170 of FIG.6). Memory 190 provides volatile storage for computer softwareinstructions 192 and data 194 used to implement an embodiment of thepresent invention (e.g., services system 10, 300). Disk storage 195provides non-volatile storage for computer software instructions 192 anddata 194 used to implement an embodiment of the present invention.Central processor unit 184 is also attached to system bus 179 andprovides for the execution of computer instructions.

In one embodiment, the processor routines 192 and data 194 are acomputer program product, including a computer readable medium (e.g., aremovable storage medium, such as one or more DVD-ROM's, CD-ROM's,diskettes, tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the softwareinstructions for the invention system. Computer program product can beinstalled by any suitable software installation procedure, as is wellknown in the art. In another embodiment, at least a portion of thesoftware instructions may also be downloaded over a cable, communicationand/or wireless connection. In other embodiments, the invention programsare a computer program propagated signal product embodied on apropagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., a radio wave, aninfrared wave, a laser wave, a sound wave, or an electrical wavepropagated over a global network, such as the Internet, or othernetwork(s)). Such carrier medium or signals provide at least a portionof the software instructions for the present invention routines/program192.

In alternate embodiments, the propagated signal is an analog carrierwave or digital signal carried on the propagated medium. For example,the propagated signal may be a digitized signal propagated over a globalnetwork (e.g., the Internet), a telecommunications network, or othernetwork. In one embodiment, the propagated signal is a signal that istransmitted over the propagation medium over a period of time, such asthe instructions for a software application sent in packets over anetwork over a period of milliseconds, seconds, minutes, or longer. Inanother embodiment, the computer readable medium of computer programproduct is a propagation medium that the computer system may receive andread, such as by receiving the propagation medium and identifying apropagated signal embodied in the propagation medium, as described abovefor computer program propagated signal product.

Generally speaking, the term “carrier medium” or transient carrierencompasses the foregoing transient signals, propagated signals,propagated medium, storage medium and the like.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

For example, the present invention may be implemented in a variety ofcomputer architectures. The computer networks illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,6 and 7 are for purposes of illustration and not limitation of thepresent invention.

The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention isimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Some examples of optical disksinclude compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write(CD-R/W) and DVD.

It should be noted that the headings used above are meant as a guide tothe reader and should not be considered limiting in any way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented system for providing aprovision of access to services comprising: (a) a ticket that enablesuse of services offered by one or more service providers duringprespecified use periods, the ticket including: a first use periodenabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use periodin exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of theservice providers; and a second use period enabling the ticket holder touse the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission toservices offered by one or more of the service providers, where thesecond use period is different from the first use period; and (b) one ormore computer processors, using a communications network, enabling atleast one of the service providers to process and redeem the ticket. 2.A computer implemented system as in claim 1 wherein the second useperiod is different from the first use period, where the second useperiod commences on or after an expiration of the first use period.
 3. Acomputer implemented system as in claim 1 wherein the ticket has a thirduse period enabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the thirduse period in exchange for admission to services offered by one or moreof the service providers, where the first, second and third use periodsare different, and the third use period commences on or after anexpiration of the second use period.
 4. A computer implemented system asin claim 3 wherein the first, second and third use periods haverespective time intervals that are equivalent in length.
 5. A computerimplemented system as in claim 1 wherein after the end of the first useperiod, the first use period expires, which prevents admission to one ofthe services with the ticket using the first use period.
 6. A computerimplemented system as in claim 1 wherein after the ticket has beenredeemed for use during the first use period, preventing admission toone of the services using the ticket during a remainder of the first useperiod.
 7. A computer implemented system as in claim 1 wherein a ticketprovider who issues the ticket receives value for the ticket holder'sfailure to use the ticket within the first use period, while the serviceproviders do not receive value for the ticket holder's failure to usethe ticket within the first use period.
 8. A computer implemented systemas in claim 1 wherein the one or more computer processors, using thecommunications network, enabling at least one of the service providersto process and redeem the ticket during the use period further includes:the one or more computer processors, using the communications network,processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid; and theone or more computer processors, using the communications network,redeeming the ticket if the ticket is valid.
 9. A computer implementedsystem as in claim 8 wherein the one or more computer processors, usinga communications network, redeeming the ticket if the ticket is validfurther includes the one service provider responding to the redeemed theticket by allowing the ticket holder to have access to the selectedservice.
 10. A computer implemented system as in claim 8 wherein the oneor more computer processors, using the communications network,processing the ticket to determine whether the ticket is valid by:determining a desired use period based on a time period in which theticket holder intends to use the ticket for admission to the selectedservice; comparing the ticket holder's desired use period with thepre-specified use periods; and if the ticket holder's desired use periodis within one of the pre-specified use periods, determining that theticket is valid.
 11. A computer implemented system as in claim 10wherein determining a desired use period further includes enabling theticket holder to make a reservation for use of the selected services forthe desired use period.
 12. A computer implemented system as in claim 11wherein enabling the user to make a reservation for use of the selectedservice during the desired use period further includes accessing, by theticket holder, an online reservation system to create the reservation.13. A computer implemented system as in claim 8 wherein thecommunications network is one or more of the following: credit cardnetwork, debit card network, or private label network.
 14. A computerimplemented system as in claim 8 wherein redeeming the ticket if theticket is valid further includes: redeeming the ticket at a variablerate; and in response to the redemption of the ticket, allowing theticket holder access to the selected service.
 15. A computer implementedsystem as in claim 1 wherein if the ticket holder's desired use periodis not within a pre-specified use period, the one or more computerprocessors, using the communications network, enabling the ticket holderto upgrade the ticket by: enabling optional purchase of additionalincremental value above a base ticket value of the ticket; andpresenting the ticket by the ticket holder to the one service providerin exchange for use of the selected services where the price debited bythe one service provider being higher than the base ticket value.
 16. Acomputer implemented system as in claim 1 wherein the service providersare authorized merchants that are part of the communications network,each merchant having access to the communications network to process theticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the communicationsnetwork; and the one or more computer processors, using thecommunications network, processing the ticket further includingprocessing the ticket by excluding any reporting of monetary valueassociated with the ticket, while providing reporting of incrementalcredit information.
 17. A computer implemented system as in claim 1wherein the one or more computer processors, using the communicationsnetwork, processing the ticket further including processing the ticketby: debiting a price set by the one service provider for the selectedservice, wherein the price debited for the service by a portion of theservice providers is different from price debited by other serviceproviders for the same service, such that the ticket is redeemed at avariable rate among the service providers for the same service; andeffecting payment at the price debited for the selected service.
 18. Acomputer implemented system as in claim 17 wherein any differences inprices debited by the service providers for substantially the sameservices are absorbed.
 19. A computer implemented system as in claim 1wherein the ticket is implemented using a card, using an electronicticket, or using an access code.
 20. A computer implemented system as inclaim 1 wherein the ticket has a unique identifier, and upon purchase ofthe ticket, activating the ticket by a seller thereof, activatingincluding validation of the unique identifier of the ticket.
 21. Acomputer implemented system for providing a provision of access toservices comprising: a ticket having two or more use periods definingtime intervals in which the ticket is useable as a provision of accessto services offered by a set of service providers; one or more computerprocessors, in communication with a credit card processing network,enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticket inresponse to remittance by a ticket holder during one of the use periods,the one or more computer processors, in communication with the creditcard processing network, redeeming the ticket without reporting ofmonetary value associated with the ticket; and where the serviceproviders are authorized merchants that use the credit card processingnetwork, each merchant having access to the credit card processingnetwork to process the ticket using an input/out port to a cardprocessor of the credit card processing network.
 22. A computerimplemented method of providing a provision of access to services,comprising the computer implemented steps of: (a) providing a ticketthat enables use of services offered by one or more service providersduring prespecified use periods, the ticket having: a first use periodenabling a ticket holder to use the ticket during the first use periodin exchange for admission to services offered by one or more of theservice providers; and a second use period enabling the ticket holder touse the ticket during the second use period in exchange for admission toservices offered by one or more of the service providers, where thesecond use period is different from the first use period; and (b)enabling at least one of the service providers to process the ticketusing a credit card processing network, where processing the ticketincludes redeeming the ticket without reporting of monetary valueassociated with the ticket, where the service providers are authorizedmerchants that use the credit card processing network, each merchanthaving access to the credit card processing network to process theticket using an input/out port to a card processor of the credit cardprocessing network; and (c) in response to redeeming the ticket,enabling the ticket holder to have access to a user-selected serviceduring the use period.